Nathan Cullen not seeking NDP leadership

NDP MP Nathan Cullen is not running for party leadership, he announced to reporters Friday outside of the House of Commons after question period.

Cullen, the party’s critic for democratic reform and environment, had been seen by some as a potential front-runner in the race to replace NDP leader Tom Mulcair, who was rejected as leader at the party’s convention in Edmonton in April. That set a leadership race in motion for fall next year, and official nominations open next month.

He cited his family (Cullen has two twin boys at home in B.C. turning six this summer) as a key factor leading into his decision, along with what is best for his constituents and his party.

He said he intends to spend time focusing on electoral reform as the Liberals look to change Canada’s voting system.

“[Electoral reform] is something that I have long believed in and hoped for,” he told reporters, adding he was encouraged by an announcement Thursday by Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef that the Liberals would cede their majority on the committee that will study electoral reform.

“The developments — the breakthrough of the logjam that we had yesterday — gives me great energy and focus, as well as my duties towards helping bring forward a climate change plan that Canadians can support.”

Cullen had run against Mulcair in the last NDP leadership race back in 2012, only to come in third, behind Mulcair and Brian Topp. He was first elected in 2004 and represents the B.C. riding Skeena-Bulkley Valley, and has been a prominent voice in the party.

NDP Health Critic Don Davies told reporters Friday he thinks Cullen not running is a loss for the party, having proved himself an “uncommon politician.”

“He is very well-liked,” Davies said. “He’s very well respected, and he’s proved himself to have that rare quality of being able to work across party lines, that I think not only Canadians like, but I think is the tenor of the times right now.”

“I think it’s part of Mr. Trudeau’s attraction as well, and I think Mr. Cullen has similar type of charisma and appeal.”

Ian Capstick, president of MediaStyle and a former federal NDP adviser, called it a “complete bummer for the NDP” for an “incredible bright light” like Nathan Cullen to bow out so early.

He said it shows the position of NDP leader is “nowhere near as exciting as it was the last time around,” and potentially makes Cullen a king-maker in the upcoming leadership race.

He added it comes as no surprise, though – why would anyone want to be party leader right now facing Justin Trudeau, a prime minister who continues to poll so well?

“The honeymoon has ostensibly not ended — and he literally charged across the aisle and elbowed someone,” Capstick said.

“What this says is that it’s going to be a very challenging to find qualified candidates for role of NDP leader.”

Shay Purdy, a former NDP Hill staffer now a consultant at Summa Strategies, said other potential candidates may have been waiting to see what Cullen would put forward in a platform before they considered a bid.

“The implication of the race for someone like Nathan Cullen not running is that it’s wide-open right now.”

Robin MacLachlan, a vice-president also at Summa Strategies who worked for both Ed Broadbent and Paul Dewar, agreed other prospective candidates might have been waiting to see what Cullen did first and “now might have a bit more of the information they need” to decide on a bid.

But MacLachlan also said he wouldn’t expect many leadership candidates to formally announce their bids until the fall.

He said he hasn’t heard much that’s concrete about candidates organizing behind the scenes. But there are groups of NDP supporters at work encouraging some to give it a shot.

“He’s demonstrated locally in his community of Brampton and the 905 his ability to get young people excited about politics and also to branch out, for the NDP, into ethnocultural communities that haven’t traditionally had the NDP on their radar,” MacLachlan said.

Toronto city councillor Mike Layton, the son of former leader Jack Layton, is another dream candidate for some members.

“I think Mike Layton is quite committed and invested in municipal politics at the moment, and is enjoying that work, but I do know that people around him are encouraging him to give it some thought.”